Effect of dust and anthropogenic aerosols on columnar aerosol optical properties over Darjeeling (2200 m asl), eastern Himalayas, India

Background

The loading of atmospheric particulate matter (aerosol) in the eastern Himalaya is mainly regulated by the locally generated anthropogenic aerosols from the biomass burning and by the aerosols transported from the distance sources. These different types of aerosol loading not only affect the aerosol chemistry but also produce consequent signature on the radiative properties of aerosol.

Methodology/Principal Findings

An extensive study has been made to study the seasonal variations in aerosol components of fine and coarse mode aerosols and black carbon along with the simultaneous measurements of aerosol optical depth on clear sky days over Darjeeling, a high altitude station (2200 masl) at eastern Himalayas during the year 2008. We observed a heavy loading of fine mode dust component (Ca²⁺) during pre-monsoon (Apr – May) which was higher by 162% than its annual mean whereas during winter (Dec – Feb), the loading of anthropogenic aerosol components mainly from biomass burning (fine mode SO₄ ²⁻ and black carbon) were higher (76% for black carbon and 96% for fine mode SO₄ ²⁻) from their annual means. These high increases in dust aerosols during pre-monsoon and anthropogenic aerosols during winter enhanced the aerosol optical depth by 25 and 40%, respectively. We observed that for every 1% increase in anthropogenic aerosols, AOD increased by 0.55% during winter whereas for every 1% increase in dust aerosols, AOD increased by 0.46% during pre-monsoon.

Conclusion/Significance

The natural dust transport process (during pre-monsoon) plays as important a role in the radiation effects as the anthropogenic biomass burning (during winter) and their differential effects (rate of increase of the AOD with that of the aerosol concentration) are also very similar. This should be taken into account in proper modeling of the atmospheric environment over eastern Himalayas.     

检测病毒气溶胶存活的方法学研究

以钝齿棒状杆菌噬菌体B271血清型为病毒等小颗粒生物粒子的模拟剂,建立了一种适合这类小颗粒生物粒子气溶胶存活研究的方法。本文从该噬菌体耐气溶胶化特性、气溶胶粒谱、用气溶胶示踪剂求算物理衰亡的方法和气溶胶采样回收技术等方面探讨了病毒气溶胶存活研究中的几个关键技术问题,为病毒气溶胶存活研究提供了参考。     

Relationship of Atmospheric Pollution Characterized by Gas (NO2) and Particles (PM10) to Microbial Communities Living in Bryophytes at Three Differently Polluted Sites (Rural, Urban, and Industrial)

Atmospheric pollution has become a major problem for modern societies owing to its fatal effects on both human health and ecosystems. We studied the relationships of nitrogen dioxide atmospheric pollution and metal trace elements contained in atmospheric particles which were accumulated in bryophytes to microbial communities of bryophytes at three differently polluted sites in France (rural, urban, and industrial) over an 8-month period. The analysis of bryophytes showed an accumulation of Cr and Fe at the rural site; Cr, Fe, Zn, Cu, Al, and Pb at the urban site; and Fe, Cr, Pb, Al, Sr, Cu, and Zn at the industrial site. During this study, the structure of the microbial communities which is characterized by biomasses of microbial groups evolved differently according to the site. Microalgae, bacteria, rotifers, and testate amoebae biomasses were significantly higher in the rural site. Cyanobacteria biomass was significantly higher at the industrial site. Fungal and ciliate biomasses were significantly higher at the urban and industrial sites for the winter period and higher at the rural site for the spring period. The redundancy analysis showed that the physico-chemical variables ([NO₂], relative humidity, temperature, and site) and the trace elements which were accumulated in bryophytes ([Cu], [Sr], [Pb]) explained 69.3% of the variance in the microbial community data. Moreover, our results suggest that microbial communities are potential biomonitors of atmospheric pollution. Further research is needed to understand the causal relationship underlined by the observed patterns.     

Aerosol lead and associated elements in Beijing,China

The relative importance of local and regional sources of lead and associated elements in fine and coarse aerosol particles of an urban atmosphere was assessed by means of a two-day study, July 20 and 30, 1980 in Beijing, China. Five near-ground locations were selected for aerosol sampling by cascade impactors and elemental analysis by proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE): the imperial palace courtyard, a park, near two streets, and a mid-street traffic island. These sites, ranked in order of increasing traffic intensity and fugitive surface dust, showed that concentrations of major dust constitutents, represented by coarse particle (>2 μm diameter) Si, Al, and Ca, increased correspondingly. Pb, as well as Zn, As, and Cu, were present mainly in fine (<2 μm) particles; their concentrations were unrelated to traffic, indicating they resulted mainly from regional combustion or other sources. However, these elements also were present in coarse particles at concentrations that varied with the major dust elements and were relatively enriched, compared to average earth crust rock material, by factors of more than 100 (Pb), 50 (Zn), and 10 (Cu). Nonurban Beijing shows much smaller coarse aerosol enrichments of Pb, Zn, and Cu, indicating urban contamination of surface dust. Published data from St. Louis, USA show both fine and coarse aerosol Pb and Zn. Compared with Beijing, fine and coarse concentrations in St. Louis are similar for Pb, but lower for Zn, Ca, and Fe. Both Pb and Zn are enriched relative to earth crust composition to a greater degree in St. Louis than Beijing in both fine and coarse particle size ranges. The results suggest that heavy metals from combustion occur in the air as fine particles and, after deposition on the surface, as reentrained coarse particles of fugitive dust. Both many contribute to human exposures of these heavy metals.     

Influenza Virus Aerosols in Human Exhaled Breath: Particle Size,Culturability, and Effect of Surgical Masks

The CDC recommends that healthcare settings provide influenza patients with facemasks as a means of reducing transmission to staff and other patients, and a recent report suggested that surgical masks can capture influenza virus in large droplet spray. However, there is minimal data on influenza virus aerosol shedding, the infectiousness of exhaled aerosols, and none on the impact of facemasks on viral aerosol shedding from patients with seasonal influenza.We collected samples of exhaled particles (one with and one without a facemask) in two size fractions (“coarse”>5 µm, “fine”≤5 µm) from 37 volunteers within 5 days of seasonal influenza onset, measured viral copy number using quantitative RT-PCR, and tested the fine-particle fraction for culturable virus.Fine particles contained 8.8 (95% CI 4.1 to 19) fold more viral copies than did coarse particles. Surgical masks reduced viral copy numbers in the fine fraction by 2.8 fold (95% CI 1.5 to 5.2) and in the coarse fraction by 25 fold (95% CI 3.5 to 180). Overall, masks produced a 3.4 fold (95% CI 1.8 to 6.3) reduction in viral aerosol shedding. Correlations between nasopharyngeal swab and the aerosol fraction copy numbers were weak (r = 0.17, coarse; r = 0.29, fine fraction). Copy numbers in exhaled breath declined rapidly with day after onset of illness. Two subjects with the highest copy numbers gave culture positive fine particle samples.Surgical masks worn by patients reduce aerosols shedding of virus. The abundance of viral copies in fine particle aerosols and evidence for their infectiousness suggests an important role in seasonal influenza transmission. Monitoring exhaled virus aerosols will be important for validation of experimental transmission studies in humans.     

Determining the basic characteristics of aerosols suitable for studies of deposition in the respiratory tract

Studies of aerosol particle deposition in the respiratory tract requires experimental inhalation of artificial model aerosols. The paper formulates some of the most important requirements for the properties of such aerosols. Several suitable fractions were prepared as part of a research project dealing with the use of microporous polymers for diagnostic purposes. 5 fractions of the polymer designated G-gel 60 with the particle size as stated by the manufacturer, ranging from 3 to 7 micron were evaluated using a 16-channel particle dispersity analyzer HIAC/ROYCO MT 3210 with the sensor 1200 and operated by a microprocessor, the equipment being coupled to an APPLE IIe computer. G-gel 60 particles introduced into the aerosol were characterized by the parameters CMAD, MMAD and sg both numerically and graphically. The measurement procedure was found to be very sensitive with respect to all fractions in evaluating the subtile differences between different lot numbers of the aerosol. G-gel 60 fractions characterized both numerically and graphically were compared with the known aerosols from paraffin oil and atmospheric air. The equipment MT 3210 enables prompt determination of the percentages of aerosol particles distribution by size class. The authors conclude that the procedure, both in its numerical and graphical versions, is particularly suitable for the diagnosis of aerosol particles deposition in the respiratory tract, offering a new application for HIAC/ROYCO in the field of medicine. In evaluating atmospheric aerosol in exhaled air, the number of particles was found to be below that in inhaled air, the difference being dependent on the choice of investigation methods. Percentual distribution of deposited particles following one minute ventilation proved to be at its maximum, as regards atmospheric aerosol, in the 0.30-0.50 micron range. The deposition curve was similar to already published curves, being characterized by an S-shaped pattern with maximum deposition in the greater size classes. An analysis of inhaled, exhaled and deposited aerosol suggested that deposited aerosol is more polydisperse and has particles of greater sizes than inhaled aerosol. Investigation of the effect of apnoe on deposition indicated that deposition increased as a function of apnoeic pause.     

Aerosol Chemistry over a High Altitude Station at Northeastern Himalayas,India

Background

There is an urgent need for an improved understanding of the sources, distributions and properties of atmospheric aerosol in order to control the atmospheric pollution over northeastern Himalayas where rising anthropogenic interferences from rapid urbanization and development is becoming an increasing concern.

Methodology/Principal Findings

An extensive aerosol sampling program was conducted in Darjeeling (altitude ∼2200 meter above sea level (masl), latitude 27°01′N and longitude 88°15′E), a high altitude station in northeastern Himalayas, during January–December 2005. Samples were collected using a respirable dust sampler and a fine dust sampler simultaneously. Ion chromatograph was used to analyze the water soluble ionic species of aerosol. The average concentrations of fine and coarse mode aerosol were found to be 29.5±20.8 µg m⁻³ and 19.6±11.1 µg m⁻³ respectively. Fine mode aerosol dominated during dry seasons and coarse mode aerosol dominated during monsoon. Nitrate existed as NH₄NO₃ in fine mode aerosol during winter and as NaNO₃ in coarse mode aerosol during monsoon. Gas phase photochemical oxidation of SO₂ during premonsoon and aqueous phase oxidation during winter and postmonsoon were the major pathways for the formation of SO₄ ²⁻ in the atmosphere. Long range transport of dust aerosol from arid regions of western India was observed during premonsoon. The acidity of fine mode aerosol was higher in dry seasons compared to monsoon whereas the coarse mode acidity was higher in monsoon compared to dry seasons. Biomass burning, vehicular emissions and dust particles were the major types of aerosol from local and continental regions whereas sea salt particles were the major types of aerosol from marine source regions.

Conclusions/Significance

The year-long data presented in this paper provide substantial improvements to the heretofore poor knowledge regarding aerosol chemistry over northeastern Himalayas, and should be useful to policy makers in making control strategies.     

“21世纪海上丝绸之路”沿线典型城市气溶胶光学厚度时空分布特征与成因

气溶胶作为悬浮分散在大气中的固态或液态微小颗粒物,对人体健康具有巨大影响,探索区域大气气溶胶变化特征和规律,对监测评估大气环境质量(尤其是人口聚集的城市地区)具有重要意义。本研究以东南亚、南亚和西亚“21世纪海上丝绸之路”沿线9个典型支点城市为例,基于MCD19A2 550 nm AOD产品,结合气象因素、土地利用数据和夜间灯光数据等,探讨亚洲发达城市区域带气溶胶的时空分布、变化特征、影响因素和成因驱动。结果表明: 2013—2018年间,9个城市气溶胶光学厚度(AOD)年平均值从高到低依次为卡拉奇、多哈、吉大港、曼谷、科伦坡、胡志明市、新加坡、瓜达尔和仰光。受区域气候系统和气溶胶类型的影响,各地区年、季和月AOD时序特征差异显著。大多数城市AOD高值区主要分布在城市中心区域或社会经济(如工农业)快速发展的地区。不同气象因素对各地区AOD的影响略有差异:降雨量、相对湿度和风速对东南亚4个城市(胡志明市、曼谷、新加坡和仰光)的影响较大,温度、相对湿度和风速与南亚4个城市(吉大港、科伦坡、卡拉奇和瓜达尔)和西亚多哈的AOD相关性较大。城市区域AOD受社会经济、城市化发展以及气象因素耦合协同作用的综合影响,其中,卡拉奇表现得最显著。     

Sources of bacteria in outdoor air across cities in the midwestern United States

Bacteria are abundant in the atmosphere, where they often represent a major portion of the organic aerosols. Potential pathogens of plants and livestock are commonly dispersed through the atmosphere, and airborne bacteria can have important effects on human health as pathogens or triggers of allergic asthma and seasonal allergies. Despite their importance, the diversity and biogeography of airborne microorganisms remain poorly understood. We used high-throughput pyrosequencing to analyze bacterial communities present in the aerosol fraction containing fine particulate matter of ≤2.5 μm from 96 near-surface atmospheric samples collected from cities throughout the midwestern United States and found that the communities are surprisingly diverse and strongly affected by the season. We also directly compared the airborne communities to those found in hundreds of samples representing potential source environments. We show that, in addition to the more predictable sources (soils and leaf surfaces), fecal material, most likely dog feces, often represents an unexpected source of bacteria in the atmosphere at more urbanized locations during the winter. Airborne bacteria are clearly an important, but understudied, component of air quality that needs to be better integrated into efforts to measure and model pollutants in the atmosphere.     

Study of PM10, PM2.5, and PM1 levels in during dust storms and local air pollution events in urban and rural sites in Tehran

The aim of this study is to survey the PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and PM₁ concentrations in rural and urban areas in Tehran province during cold, warm and dust storm days from December 22, 2016 to June 5, 2017 using Grimm Model aerosol spectrometer. During the study period, daily PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and PM₁ concentrations ranged from 27.2 to 244.96, 8.4 to 77.9, and 6.5 to 56.8 μg/m³ in urban sites, and 22.8 to 286.4, 6 to 41.1, and 2.1 to 20.2 μg/m³ in rural parts, respectively. Particularly, both daily WHO limits for outdoor PM₁₀ (50.0 μg/m³) and PM_2.5 (25.0 μg/m³) exceeded in 95% and 83% of the outdoor measurements in winter and 82% and 58% in total sampled days in urban site, respectively. The 24-h average PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 concentrations also exceeded by 59% and 18% in winter and by 36% and 14% of all sampling days in rural site, respectively. During the dust storm, the 24-h average PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and PM₁ concentrations were, respectively 4.7, 2, and 1.96 times higher than those in urban site and 2, 1.7, and 1.3 times more than those in rural site in all sampled days.     

Seasonal variation of elemental status in the lichen Ramalina menziesii tayl. From two sites in southern California: Evidence for dry deposition accumulation

In southern California the lichen Ramalina menziesii was transplanted from a relatively unpolluted area to a highly polluted area for three periods over a year. During each period multi-element analyses of both water leachable extracts and residual fractions from the leached thallus were analyzed at 2-week intervals. Total concentrations were calculated by adding these two measurements. Total concentration of most elements did not exhibit distinct seasonal patterns but the higher concentrations exceeded background levels by factors of 1.3–3.7, depending on the element. In contrast, the elements in the leachates at the control and the polluted site exhibited distinct seasonal patterns with higher concentrations generally present in summer than in winter. High leachable concentrations were only found during dry periods, and consequently the leachable fraction was assumed to represent primarily dry deposition accumulation, particularly as the magnitude of the differences was higher at the polluted site. These elemental patterns reflected not only atmospheric deposition patterns, but also intracellular release of elements as injury occurred and to a lesser extent accumulation of marine aerosols and soil particulates.     

Collection and characterization of a bulk PM2.5 air particulate matter material for use in reference materials

A contemporary PM_2.5 (particulate matter smaller than 2.5 Μm aerodynamic diameter) aerosol material from an urban site has been collected for the production of a new standard reference material that will be made available for the development of new PM_2.5 air quality standards. Air particulate matter corresponding to the PM_2.5 fraction was collected at an established Environmental Protection Agency monitoring site in Baltimore, Maryland. The air-sampling system that has been constructed for this collection separates fine particles with a cyclone separator and deposits them onto an array of Teflon membrane filters. The fine air particulate material is removed by ultrasonication or by mechanical means and collected for further preparation of standards. The composition of the collected PM_2.5 aerosol, as well as the composition of the deposited PM_2.5 aerosol, are determined by instrumental nuclear activation analysis and other techniques.     

Experimental Technique for Studying Aerosols of Lyophilized Bacteria

An experimental technique is presented for studying aerosols generated from lyophilized bacteria by using Escherichia coli B, Bacillus subtilis var. niger, Enterobacter aerogenes, and Pasteurella tularensis. An aerosol generator capable of creating fine particle aerosols of small quantities (10 mg) of lyophilized powder under controlled conditions of exposure to the atmosphere is described. The physical properties of the aerosols are investigated as to the distribution of number of aerosol particles with particle size as well as to the distribution of number of bacteria with particle size. Biologically unstable vegetative cells were quantitated physically by using ¹⁴C and Europium chelate stain as tracers, whereas the stable heat-shocked B. subtilis spores were assayed biologically. The physical persistence of the lyophilized B. subtilis aerosol is investigated as a function of size of spore-containing particles. The experimental result that physical persistence of the aerosol in a closed aerosol chamber increases as particle size is decreased is satisfactorily explained on the bases of electrostatic, gravitational, inertial, and diffusion forces operating to remove particles from the particular aerosol system. The net effect of these various forces is to provide, after a short time interval in the system (about 2 min), an aerosol of fine particles with enhanced physical stability. The dependence of physical stability of the aerosol on the species of organism and the nature of the suspending medium for lyophilization is indicated. Also, limitations and general applicability of both the technique and results are discussed.     

Characterizing bacterial assemblages in sediments and aerosols at a dry lake bed in Australia using high-throughput sequencing

Dust storms are responsible for the transport of a large quantity of bacteria from arid regions. A severe drought in the first decade of the new millennium in Australia increased the incidence of dust transport further. The major aims of this study were to characterize the bacterial communities in aerosols and their associated source sediments using high-throughput sequencing (HTS) and to investigate the possibility of using HTS to link dust to its source, which has not been previously performed in this way. Four field campaigns were conducted at the recently evaporated saline playa Lake Gnarpurt in the Australian state of Victoria between 2008 and 2010 (3 in the austral summer, 1 in winter) to collect aerosol and sediment samples. Aerosol samples were collected on filters up to 150 m above the lake bed using a tethered helium-filled balloon. DNA was extracted from all samples using commercial kits, and the bacterial communities were examined using 454 HTS on the 16S rRNA gene. Over 200,000 sequences from 29 samples were analysed. In both sediment and aerosol samples, Salinimicrobium was the most abundant taxon; however, there was great variation and diversity across all samples. Analysis of similarities of the bacterial communities indicated that there was a significant overlap between the sediment samples and the aerosols collected above that location, showing that the bacteria in the air was derived from a subset of dust from a nearby source. The challenge remains to use bacterial profiling to link an aerosol sample to a distant source.     

A study of air particulate pollution in colombo using a nuclear-related analytical technique

Air particulate matter of two size fractions (coarse [2.5–10 Μm] and fine [less than 2.5 Μm]) were collected at an urban residential site (Colombo University ground) over a period of 12 mo during 1996 using a Gent PM10 stacked filter unit. Seventy-five sets of samples collected during this period were analyzed for 10 elements: Al, Si, K, S, Ca, Ti, Fe, Zn, Br, and Pb by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence, which is a multielement analysis. This is a highly sensitive technique enabling quantitative analysis of very low masses. The average concentrations of lead, sulfur, and bromine, which are generally associated with combustion products of automotive exhausts, dominate the fine fraction in this study. The minimum and maximum concentration of lead resulting in an annual average of 0.09 Μg/m³ was found to be 0.0042 and 0.441 Μg/m³ in particulate matter with less than 10 Μm equivalent aerodynamic diameter. The maximum concentration determined is well below the limits set by the World Health Organization (0.5–1.0 Μg/m³). The recommended value for Pb in Sri Lanka is 0.5 Μg/m³. Al, Si, Ca, Ti, and Fe exhibited enhanced concentrations in the coarse fraction, which probably originate from disturbed soil as a result of wind and traffic.     

Impact of atmospheric nitrogen deposition on soil properties and herb-layer diversity in remnant forests along an urban–rural gradient in Guangzhou, southern China

Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition in subtropical metropolitan regions has increased greatly because of rapid urbanization, and such increase could lead to N-related changes in soil properties and plant diversity in remnant forests of urban ecosystems. To investigate the pattern of atmospheric N deposition along an urban?Crural gradient in metropolitan Guangzhou, southern China, and to assess the potential influence of N deposition on soil properties and understory plant diversity in remnant forests, precipitation, and soil samples were collected and vegetation was surveyed from four forest sites between March 2010 and March 2011. The atmospheric inorganic nitrogen deposition (DIN) decreased with increasing distance from the urban center: DIN inputs were 43.3, 41.2, 35.2, and 30.1?kg?N?ha^?1?year^?1 in two urban sites, a suburban site and a rural site, respectively. However, forest soil N status (NH₄ ⁺-N, NO₃ ^?-N, and total nitrogen) showed the opposite pattern. Understory herb-layer diversity was negatively correlated to DIN input and positively correlated to soil calcium (Ca) and potassium (K) concentrations and pH; with highest herb-layer diversity found in the rural site receiving the lowest amount of DIN input. These results indicated that higher DIN along with soil acidification and leaching of base cations (Ca and K) might change the current N status and increase nutrients leaching and thereby cause reductions in understory plant diversity. A regional policy linking atmospheric pollution and land protection is needed to protect the most N-sensitive herb species (e.g., forbs and ferns) in these remnant forests.     

Allergenic Asteraceae in air particulate matter: quantitative DNA analysis of mugwort and ragweed

Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) and ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) are highly allergenic Asteraceae. They often cause pollen allergies in late summer and fall. While mugwort is native to Europe, ragweed reached Europe as a neophyte from North America about 150 years ago and continued spreading ever since. To understand possible relationships between the spread of ragweed, its abundance in air, and to judge possible health risks for the public, we quantified ragweed DNA in inhalable fine as well as in coarse air particulate matter. Mugwort was chosen for comparison, as it is closely related to ragweed and grows in similar, though mainly not identical, habitats but is native to Germany. The DNA quantification was performed on atmospheric aerosol samples collected over a period of 5 years in central Europe. The DNA concentrations were highest during the characteristic pollination periods but varied greatly between different years. In the inhalable fine particle fraction, ragweed exceeds the mugwort DNA concentration fivefold, while the coarse particle fraction, bearing intact pollen grains, contains more mugwort than ragweed DNA. The higher allergenic potential of ragweed might be linked to the humidity or long-range transport-induced bursting of ragweed pollen into smaller allergenic particles, which may reach the lower airways and cause more intense allergic reactions. Airborne ragweed DNA was detected also outside the local pollination periods, which can be explained by atmospheric long-range transport. Back-trajectory analyses indicate that the air masses containing ragweed DNA during winter had originated in regions with milder climate and large ragweed populations (Southern France, Carpathian Basin).     

Inferring biogenic and anthropogenic carbon dioxide sources across an urban to rural gradient

We continuously monitored CO₂ concentrations at three locations along an urban-to-rural gradient in the Salt Lake Valley, Utah from 2004 to 2006. The results showed a range of CO₂ concentrations from daily averages exceeding 500 p.p.m. at the city center to much lower concentrations in a non-urbanized, rural region of the valley. The highest values were measured in the wintertime and under stable atmospheric conditions. At all three sites, we utilized weekly measurements of the C and O isotope composition of CO₂ for a 1-year period to evaluate the CO₂ sources underlying spatial and temporal variability in CO₂ concentrations. The results of an inverse analysis of CO₂ sources and the O isotope composition of ecosystem respiration (δ¹⁸ O _R) showed large contributions (>50%) of natural gas combustion to atmospheric CO₂ in the wintertime, particularly at the city center, and large contributions (>60%) of biogenic respiration to atmospheric CO₂ during the growing season, particularly at the rural site. δ¹⁸ O _R was most enriched at the rural site and more isotopically depleted at the urban sites due to the effects of irrigation on ecosystem water pools at the urban sites. The results also suggested differences in the role of leaf versus soil respiration between the two urban sites, with seasonal variation in the contribution of leaf respiration at a residential site and relatively constant contributions of leaf respiration at the city center. These results illustrate that spatial and temporal patterns of urban CO₂ concentrations and isotopic composition can be used to infer patterns of energy use by urban residents as well as plant and soil processes in urban areas.     

大气细颗粒污染物 PM2.5 浓度及对肺上皮细胞炎性因子的影响

目的:研究大气细颗粒污染物(PM2.5)浓度及对肺上皮细胞(A549细胞)炎性因子的影响。方法:测定2013年1月至2013年12月北京市某城区PM2.5浓度,比较不同PM2.5浓度对A549细胞炎性因子IL-6、TNF-α表达水平的影响。结果:北京市细颗粒污染物PM2.5日均值春季、夏季、秋季、冬季分别为174.3μg/m3、143.5μg/m3、166.7μg/m3、189.6μg/m3,四季超标率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);大气细颗粒污染物PM2.5对肺上皮细胞IL-6、TNF-α的影响,春季、夏季、秋季、冬季四季之间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);随着PM2.5浓度升高IL-6、TNF-α表达水平升高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);随着染毒时间延长IL-6、TNF-α表达水平升高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:大气细颗粒污染物浓度升高会使肺上皮细胞炎性因子表达增强。     

夏季南京市中心-郊区-城市森林梯度上的近地层大气特征

运用定点观测法和车载传感器的流动观测法,研究了夏季沿南京市市中心-郊区-城市森林梯度的近地层大气温度(T_(N-S))、CO_2浓度(p_(N-S)(CO_2))、湿度和污染气体浓度的变化规律.结果表明,沿市中心-郊区-城市森林梯度,T_(N-S)、p_(N-S)(CO_2)、相对湿度(RH_(N-S))和污染物浓度(p_(N-S)(SO_2)和p_(N-S)(NO_2))均表现为规律性的变化,与观测点距市中心的距离间的关系可用logistic方程进行较好的拟合(R~2在0.71～0.90之间).与城市森林(S9)相比,市中心(S1)的T_(N-S)和p_(N-S)(CO_2)在一天中的任何时段均有不同程度的升高,其中,T_(N-S)升高幅度在5:00～6:00时段最小,而在17:00～18:00时段最大,分别为1.3℃和4.7℃,白天和夜间平均分别升高了3.7℃和2.1℃;而p_(N-S)(CO_2)升高幅度在1:00～2:00时段最小,在13:00～14:00时段最大,分别为7.0μmol/mol和66μmol/mol,白天和夜间平均分别升高了55μmol/mol和20μmol/mol.S1和S9点间,绝对湿度(AH_(N-S))的全天平均值无显著差异;而RH_(N-S)除了5:00～6:00时段两点均接近饱和外,一天中S9点均高于S1点,两点最大差值出现在13:00～14:00时段,S1和S9分别为37.4%和52.9%,全天平均升高了7.0%.与S9点相比,S1点的p_(N-S)(SO_2)和p_(N-S)(NO_2)在上午10:00～11:40间分别升高了0.88倍和2.1倍.表明,当前城市的一些环境因子如T_(N-S)和p_(N-S)(CO_2)相当于全球数十年或更久以后的水平.